November 28, 2011 Coats Museum NewsThe date on the calendar was December 16, 1924 when the Coats Board of Commissioners met in a called meeting by Mayor W.E. Nichols. The full board was present and a resolution was offered by Commissioner Wheless to put the town meeting of the board on a weekly basis. The motion was seconded by Commissioner W.M. Keen and the vote on the resolution carried unanimously and Tuesday night at 7:30 was designated as the time for the meetings. Mr. C.N. Rackcliff of Carolina Power and Light Company was present and made application for the franchise to carry on the general business of generating and distributing electric current within and near the town of Coats. It was moved by Commissioner A.R. Byrd that this business be passed upon at the next regular meeting on December 23, 1924 (Coats Town Meeting Minutes December 16, 1924).Did the town have no electricity? Did Dr. H.C. Roberts not rebuild his small power plant after it was completely destroyed when the Coats Hosiery Mill burned at 4:00AM on that cold Tuesday morning in 1920? He had no insurance. Did we not read about Cumberland Power Company officials coming to Coats and telling the ladies of the small town of a little more than 525 people to purchase the electric irons, churns and other electric devises because electricity was coming to town?I do know that Christmas was only two days away when the Coats Town Commissioners met at 7:30 p.m. on December 23, 1924. Mayor W.E. Nichols, S.M. Wheless, Jr., W.M. Keen, A.R. Byrd, and Clerk J.C. Graham were present. Once again the discussion dealt with the CPL franchise to provide electric energy in and around Coats. After they read the franchise section by section and had a general discussion, the adoption of the franchise was unanimous (Coats Town Meeting Minutes December 23, 1924). The date was December 30, 1924 when the Coats Town Board held its second meeting on the CPL franchise for electrical energy. Again the commissioners read the franchise section by section and had a general discussion of the same. All commissioners voted for the franchise. Correct documentation of minutes was certified and given to the Carolina Power and Light Company. The franchise to H.C. Roberts on January 18, 1917 was to be cancelled. Carolina Power was to provide twenty-five 100 CP streetlights (Coats Town Board Meeting Minutes December 30, 1924).Questions-Do you wonder how Dr. Roberts reacted to the presence of CPL in Coats? How about the Coats Woman’s Club ladies who worked so hard to get lights in the 1921 brick school auditorium-did they approve of the arrival of CPL? How long would it take for the farmers to have electrical service from CPL?This I do know. The year was 1925 and this was the year that Nellie Taylor Rice of Wyoming became the first woman to take office of governor. Paul Newman was born this year and wide-bottom trousers were the fad. “Silent Cal” spoke up and said that he would not be caught dead in them but as the President of the United States he did propose to phase out the inheritance tax. In Tennessee, teaching of evolution was banned in the public schools. Walter Chrysler formed the Chrysler Motor Company and the price of the car was not cheap--$1,500.00. James Buchanan Duke died and left money enough to make Duke University the wealthiest university. Was it called Duke in l924? When did it change from Trinity?The Harnett County News January 15, 1925 issue reported that the Harnett County Board of Commissioners ordered the “Blue Laws” were to be enforced by Sheriff Fowler who was reminded that the custom of allowing garages, filling stations, drug stores and drinking stands could no longer open their doors on Sunday. The county commissioners also turned over the 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923 tax books to Henry A. Turlington for collection of drainage tax. Don’t ask me? The auditor was to make out an audit of taxes due and the collector had to give bond (Harnett County News January 8, 1925).In that same edition of the paper, it was reported that the county board employed a firm of public accountants to audit the county books and to establish a modern and efficient bookkeeping system for the auditor of the county. Were they saying the county had an antiquated and inefficient bookkeeping system? Did you know that Harnett County once had a poor farm and home? The January 8, 1925 Harnett County News wrote that J.P. Parker, manager of the poor farm and home, had put in a bill for 20 dollars for a cook hire. The county board stated emphatically that they would make so such allowance. They paid the bill that time, but sent word to Manager Parker that no cook could get on the county payroll. What do you think of these county commissioners?Read next week to learn more about Henry Turlington before he became the tax collector. Death will take another prominent citizen in Coats and another fire will strike a major Coats industry?

Please be mindful that this article was published in the Daily Record in November 2011